Senate Bill 1044 has passed the House and Senate after considerable debate and has been sent to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter to sign.

The bill prevents eminent domain from being used to acquire lands for “trails, paths, greenways or other ways for walking, running, hiking, bicycling or equestrian use, unless adjacent to a highway, road or street.”

Sen. Jim Guthrie, R-McCammon, sponsored the bill on the Senate floor.

“This legislation is so important because we are seeing more of these kinds of takings across the country,” said Guthrie.

“The playing field needs to be level. Negotiate, not take.”

Sen. Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, voted against the bill.

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